Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Glasgow Subway Festival

SPT introduces Glasgow's first Subway Festival SPT and DADA team up for groundbreaking celebration Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has joined forces with leading Glasgow marketing company DADA to introduce the UK’s first ever underground Festival. The unique ‘Glasgow Subway Festival’ runs over four days from Thursday, 10 April to Sunday, 13 April. It will involve an array of exciting and fun events, performances and fantastic competitions and will highlight just how quick, easy, enjoyable and cost effective it is to reach any of Glasgow’s great parks, museums, art galleries, cinemas, restaurants and bars just by hopping on the Subway. The Subway Festival will also remind families what a fun day out they can have using public transport to get around the city. The festival will feature an incredible line up of activities and performances from Scottish talent. The programme will involve events both below and above ground, including: A Treasure Hunt to win a holiday for four in New York Musical and theatrical performances Fashion shows, Falconry, Poetry readings, Tango dancing, Food demonstrations and Art shows.All Glasgow Subway Festival events and performances in and around stations will be free over the four-day festival, with Subway tickets also allowing the city’s passengers to benefit from a variety of discounts from a whole host of venues surrounding the Subway stations for the duration of the festival. From Monday, 31 March, Subway Festival staff will be selling ‘Glasgow Subway Festival’ badges, with all profits going to the Yorkhill Children’s Foundation. By wearing their badges during the festival, Subway travellers are in with a chance of winning some fantastic ‘on the spot’ prizes, ranging from free Subway tickets to meals at some of Glasgow’s top restaurants. Passengers will also have the chance to take part in an exciting Subway Festival Treasure Hunt which will take place on the last day of the festival - Sunday, 13 April. The ‘treasure’ found by one very lucky traveller will be an incredible trip for four to New York City – home of one of the world’s most famous subway systems. Alistair Watson, Chair of SPT, said: “The Glasgow Subway is the quickest and most effective method of transport that the city has to offer. It’s a hugely important resource which carries over 36,000 people every day. During the festival we want to create a lot of extra fun – particularly fun for the family - and we hope it will prove to be one of Scotland’s most popular festivals. This is a perfect way to highlight how effective and quick the Subway is for getting around the city.” Oli Norman, Managing Director of DADA, said: “I’m a regular user of the Subway and always felt that like other subway systems throughout the world, Glasgow should use their network of stations to create an exciting programme of entertainment and activity for passengers. “ “The Glasgow Subway is at the heart of city life and is one of the most effective ways of getting around, whether it’s a visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Hillhead, to visit the pubs and cafes of the West End or to the city centre for shopping. The subways of New York, London and Paris are always brimming with entertainment and activity, and now it is Glasgow’s turn”. He added “The festival is completely integrated into Glasgow’s day-to-day life and with a wealth of competitions, offers and entertainment this is going to be an unforgettable four days for everyone involved.” Going Overground From Thursday, 10 April to Friday, 11 April, most of the events will be taking place above ground, with a focus on some of the exciting Glasgow venues and attractions surrounding the city’s Subway stations. Special events and performances will be taking place at themed stations throughout the week. Confirmation of all Going Overground activity and the themed stations will be released shortlyGoing Underground During the weekend of 12 and 13 April, the party atmosphere will move underground as well as overground. Live music in the stations will happily fill the gaps for passengers waiting between trains, with performances to suit every taste spontaneously taking place all across the Subway system. From classic solo musical renditions to poetry performances and even short plays, unexpected and exciting live spectacles will be entertaining travellers all day long. A full programme of weekend performances and events will be released next week. Programme flyers including a map of the Subway and details of when and where the events will be taking place will be available at all Subway ticket kiosks from Monday, 31 March. More information on the festival can be obtained by calling 0141 222 2266.